The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-07-09
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
OBSTINATE PETER.
a Little Story of Boy who Thought
Girls "Don't Know Nothing"

y
indications of shower, and you must
be sure and not let the young turks get
wet" said Farmer Garland, as he step
ped into the buggy in which his wife
was already seated. Eyes, sir" drawl-
ed Potter slowly; but he looked glum
enough as he watched his parents out
of sight and then glanced up at the
blue sky overhead, muttering; "Stuff |
and nonsensel Nobody will run away |
with the house, and there is no more
danger of rain than of snow l might |
just as we'll go fishing with the other
fellows!n He did not dare, however,
to disobey so positive q command of
his fathers, and pretty soon, with his
handsi in his pockets, sauntered around
to the back of the farm house, to look
at his own especial brood of turkeys,
fine young fowls, that he was raising
himself and which, before his minds
eye, he could already see sent to mar
ket and transformed into the jingling
coin of the republic, and that, in turn,
invested in the desire of his heart, a
bicycle. "And Thanksgiving will see
me spinning along on my metal steed,
and growing over all the boys" he
thought, with pride and delight.
The Garland homestead was very
old-fashioned mansion, and in the rear
stood one of those brick Dutch ovens
in which our forefathers-o rather.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS wont to bake their
famous milk pies and pan dowdies;
and close to this, Peter came upon his
two little sisters, deep in their Satur-
day baking, and merry as grigs, as
they concocted their pies of rich brown
mud and fresh spring water, and to
which they gave as high-sounding
names as any French chef.
"What n silly girls play that isP'
exclaimed Peter, as he gave one of the
little tarts u kick, making wee Polly
cry out that he chad. spoiled her best
Patty Foggarty," by which we suppose
she meant pate-de-f ois-gras, and caused
Tressy to turn on him pair of big,
reproachful eyes. But as he leaned idly
against the fence, watching the young
cooks, he gradually became interested
in their employment. H at last ex-
claimed; Here, girls, you don't know
how to make good mud pies! Yours
are all crooked; girls never do do things
right! I'll show you how they ought to
6o!n And snatching the old ham
dleless knife from his sister S
hands, down this ,pompous little
"lord of creation" pumped
on the ground and began stirring up
the earth, while poor Tressy could only
sit by and hold the cup of water for his
lordship, and Polly's sturdy little feet
were kept busy trudging back and
forth to the Dutch oven, where these
decidedly indigestible specimens o.
cookery were placed to brown.
Thus the afternoon wore away unit
Tressy. looking up, suddenly cried
'Why. there is big bank of black
clouds coming up in the west! We are
going to have rain, and the turkeys
| must be driven under shelter! But
| Peter, who had now turned his atten
| ton from dirt pies and was absorbed
In erecting mud fort only said
Don't worry; the shower won't come
here; twill 90 round, most lkelyT
Uneasily. Tressy waited five minutes
longer, and then, us the battalions O
3 clouds continued to advance started
3 ND, saving: at is best to be on thu
D safe side! Let us get the fowls
4 together, PeterI'
Il tell you it is not going to rain,
Q returned Peter, obstinately; "there i
enough blue sky to make trousers for
dozen sailors"
"We'n, if you won't come j shall
drive pas turkeys in myself" sail
Tressy, who, although usually gentle
yielding little creature, could be firm
enough at times. 'i'
"And have your trouble for naught
! can lell by the way of the wind tina
the shower will go round, and yo
{ had much better stay and see me fms
y my Sumter" @
But Tressv thought otherwise, an
summoning Polly, the two little girl
!, were soon racing all over the grounds
driving the turkeys into the hen-houst
; while Peter shouted after them
= 'That's right! run and tear till 20
a are out of breath; but don't dare
. drive one of my brood in doOls!'
u TWAS hard work to cage the vii
= creatures, and the little maids WEI
= tired out before the tail-feathers Of tn
= last refractorr gobbler disappeare
y within the door and they were a
II safely shut in; but by that time thei
Il was not enough blue sky remaining
- make even pair of gloves, an
" Tressy came back timidly TO the youn
10 Govt builder IN sav SOFTLY "PleaS